Will we qualify for the CL?

[PaulWinch again]

We just need to win our games. We haven’t done that consistently enough this season.

[Mellin]

We still have to face Forest, Man City, Bournemouth and Newcastle. That's where we need results. Provided in the other fixtures we don't draw at home to 10 man Ipswich. But that ain't gonna happen.

[SaddVillan]

If Citeh get a suitable points deduction, then they're out of the picture.

And with a decent results in the next round of fixtures, the Prem should get a 5th Champs League place next season based on coefficients.

So assuming Liverpool take the title, that leaves
Arsenal, Forest, Toon, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Villa and Brighton fighting over 4 spots.

Do you want to bet against us?

[ChicagoLion]

If Citeh get a suitable points deduction, then they're out of the picture.

And with a decent results in the next round of fixtures, the Prem should get a 5th Champs League place next season based on coefficients.

So assuming Liverpool take the title, that leaves
Arsenal, Forest, Toon, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Villa and Brighton fighting over 4 spots.

Do you want to bet against us?

Yes, what odds you offering?

[rob_bridge]

5th place is probably 65 points so we need 23/33. Cant see us winning 7 and drawing 2 based on schedule and injuries which make us inconsistent. I'd say 7th. 3rd-9th being City/Newcastle/Forest/Bournemouth/Us/Chelsea/Brighton

At least the January signings give us a puncher's chance though. I think 6th at best.

[ozzjim]

I think 7th too. Not sure a season in the conference would do us much good, and would almost certainly see Asensio and Rashford not stay on, which would be a shame having seen the quality they have.

Only ourselves to blame this season. 2 points from Ipswich, home draw with Palace, Bournemouth, West Ham. All 5 games we should have walked home.

[john2710]

The next 3 away games against Palace, Brentford & Brighton are critical, with a minimum of 6 points needed. I'd love to be wrong, but I just don't see any evidence that we will.

If we are still within 2-3 points of the top 5 after those games, I think we'll do it.

[Dave]

The next 3 away games against Palace, Brentford & Brighton are critical, with a minimum of 6 points needed. I'd love to be wrong, but I just don't see any evidence that we will.

If we are still within 2-3 points of the top 5 after those games, I think we'll do it.

Yeah, that feels right.

I think the biggest factor might be any points deduction that comes Man City's way. Three teams fighting for third / fourth / fifth feels a lot more do-able than two teams fighting for fourth / fifth.

As even though they're rubbish compared to usual, you'd still expect them to swat aside enough lower teams to finish comfortably in the top four if no points deduction happens this season.

[Drummond]

I think 4 points would be expected. 5 points a positive return, 6 would be good, yet disappointing to have lost one, 7 we'd be happy and 9 would be absolutely smashing. Anything less would be very disappointing, though going undefeated with 3 draws wouldn't be all bad.

[Dave]

I think 4 points would be expected. 5 points a positive return, 6 would be good, yet disappointing to have lost one, 7 we'd be happy and 9 would be absolutely smashing. Anything less would be very disappointing, though going undefeated with 3 draws wouldn't be all bad.

I'd say that the Brentford / Brighton games are more important than the Palace one, as both are still in the conversation of finishing above us, so them not getting points is more important than Palace not getting points.

I think unless we get 5/6 points from those three we're really going to need to be getting 4-6 points from Forest and Newcastle.

[Sexual Ealing]

I think 4 points would be expected. 5 points a positive return, 6 would be good, yet disappointing to have lost one, 7 we'd be happy and 9 would be absolutely smashing. Anything less would be very disappointing, though going undefeated with 3 draws wouldn't be all bad.

I'd say that the Brentford / Brighton games are more important than the Palace one, as both are still in the conversation of finishing above us, so them not getting points is more important than Palace not getting points.

I think unless we get 5/6 points from those three we're really going to need to be getting 4-6 points from Forest and Newcastle.

I'd say we need those four-six points (Forest & Newcastle) regardless.

[Dave]

I think 4 points would be expected. 5 points a positive return, 6 would be good, yet disappointing to have lost one, 7 we'd be happy and 9 would be absolutely smashing. Anything less would be very disappointing, though going undefeated with 3 draws wouldn't be all bad.

I'd say that the Brentford / Brighton games are more important than the Palace one, as both are still in the conversation of finishing above us, so them not getting points is more important than Palace not getting points.

I think unless we get 5/6 points from those three we're really going to need to be getting 4-6 points from Forest and Newcastle.

I'd say we need those four-six points (Forest & Newcastle) regardless.

Perhaps. But Forest have lost three of their last four and have Arsenal and Man City next. There is definitely greater precedent for a team doing unexpectedly well in the first half of the season and then falling away than there is of them maintaining it.

On Newcastle, obviously I'd rather we beat them but them smashing us and finishing fourth while we win the other games we'd be expected to and finish fifth would still be fine.

So there are scenarios where it's all okay.

[boozey182]

I think 4 points would be expected. 5 points a positive return, 6 would be good, yet disappointing to have lost one, 7 we'd be happy and 9 would be absolutely smashing. Anything less would be very disappointing, though going undefeated with 3 draws wouldn't be all bad.

This is the point of the season where my brain starts to implode with all the different possibilities. There's an argument that 5 points could be better than 6, if the 6 meant losing to Brighton. Or losing tonight, a draw against Brentford and beating Brighton might even be better than winning the first two, depending on other results.

Let's just win tonight. We need to go on a run, and matches like this are the ones that can define a season. Away on Tuesday night, to a mid-table team. Decent, but not unbeatable. We've amassed quite a few points in a small space of time, on the back of an excellent result on Saturday. We need to back it up, and consolidate our position. We looked out of the race after Ipswich, now all of a sudden teams will see us right amongst the battle.

The sun is out. I can see snowdrops from my window. The long, tough winter is passing and it's time to start something. When Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote "Nothing is so beautiful as Spring!", I'm pretty sure he was referring to the prospect of an away win at Crystal Palace which starts a 10 game winning run to properly start a season that, up to now, hasn't properly got going.

[Brazilian Villain]

When Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote "Nothing is so beautiful as Spring!", I'm pretty sure he was referring to the prospect of an away win at Crystal Palace which starts a 10 game winning run to properly start a season that, up to now, hasn't properly got going.

Any relation to Robert?

[Drummond]

I think 4 points would be expected. 5 points a positive return, 6 would be good, yet disappointing to have lost one, 7 we'd be happy and 9 would be absolutely smashing. Anything less would be very disappointing, though going undefeated with 3 draws wouldn't be all bad.

This is the point of the season where my brain starts to implode with all the different possibilities. There's an argument that 5 points could be better than 6, if the 6 meant losing to Brighton. Or losing tonight, a draw against Brentford and beating Brighton might even be better than winning the first two, depending on other results.

Let's just win tonight. We need to go on a run, and matches like this are the ones that can define a season. Away on Tuesday night, to a mid-table team. Decent, but not unbeatable. We've amassed quite a few points in a small space of time, on the back of an excellent result on Saturday. We need to back it up, and consolidate our position. We looked out of the race after Ipswich, now all of a sudden teams will see us right amongst the battle.

The sun is out. I can see snowdrops from my window. The long, tough winter is passing and it's time to start something. When Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote "Nothing is so beautiful as Spring!", I'm pretty sure he was referring to the prospect of an away win at Crystal Palace which starts a 10 game winning run to properly start a season that, up to now, hasn't properly got going.

And that's it, the combinations and permutations are so wide-ranging that it's almost impossible to work out what's needed. If we keep winning, everything will be fine. There are lots of other outcomes that could happen to mean that it's just not the end of the world if things don't go the right way every week.